Filling-feeler mechanism for box looms



5W? TTABLE COPY Ma ch 17. 1925. v 1,529,667

J. NORTHROR FILLING FEELER MECHANISM FOR BOX LOOMS Filed June l f, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 QW ZW/IW. V

5 sheet s sheet 2 March 17. 1925.

J NORTHRQP FILLING FEELER MECHANISM FOR Box LOOMS F iled June 17. 1922,

ZZJZZ 7266.9

March 17. 1925.

- J'. NORTHROP FILLING FEELER MECHANISM FOR Bbx LOOMS Filed June '17. 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,529,667 PATENT o Flcs.

JONAS NORTHROP, 0F HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR HOPEDALE MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OE MILFORD, MAssAcHUsETTs, A CORPORATION MASSA- CHUSETTS.

-FILLING-FEEI-ER MECHANISM FOR. BOX Looivrs.

Application filed June 17,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, J NAs NORTHROI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented.cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Fill ing-Feeler Mechanisms. for Box Looms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement to feeler looms' and more particularly to feeler looms of the box type.

The object of theiiwention is to produce a weft replenishing loom of the box type of novel and improved construction inwhich' the replenishing operation is controlled by feeler mechanism in a novel and improved manner.

With this object in View, the invention consists in the box loom hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims.

7 In the accom anying drawing illustrating the preferred cm of the invention as embodied in a box loom having two boxes, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a loom with the shuttle box shown in section; Fig. 2 is aplan of a portion of the loom with the feeler and change mechanism; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the change mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the feelersv and a portion of the connections between them and the change mechanism; Fig. 5

shows the parts illustrated in Fig. .4 with one of the feelers in feeling position.

Box looms embodying the present invention are provided with a plurality of change boxes upon one side of the loom, arranged tobe'automatically raised and lowered inv timed relation to the operationof the loom "in order that the filling from the shuttles may be utilized to accomplish the weaving o eration. The weft re lenishing mechanism is located at the si e of the loomv remote from the change boxes and provision is made for controlling its operation by feeler mechanism arranged to feel of the thread while the shuttle boxes are vertically stationary, thus eliminating the uncertainty of action'due to complications of motions.

The feeling mechanism preferably in- 1922. Serial No. 569,110.

cludes a plurality of jfeelers, one for each of the change boxes,a rranged to be raised and lowered with the boxes so as to maintain each feeler in a correct Vertical position with relation to its box at all times. Provision-is made for controlling the operation of the feelers, so that the effective feeling operation, that is, the detecting operation, is performed upon the inactive shuttle at a time when the active shuttle is at the replenishing side-of the 100m and out of the active change box; In addition, it has been found that the chafing of the thread by the filling engaging tip of the rigidly mounted feeler heretofore employed in this type of loom andthe thread breakage incident thereto is successfully avoided by the provision of a yieldingly mounted feeler. Heretofore it has beeh proposed to feel of the filling in a shuttle when the box containing the shuttle was being raised or lowered, but the longitudinal movement of the shuttle at this time due to the shuttle camming itself out of the-depression in the pick er caused serious wearion-the filling exposed looms. The boxes are raised and lowered by the rods 8, on the'gupp'er end of which t ey are carried, which slide vertically on the lay structure, being raised and lowered by the link 9, connected at itsupper end to the rocking beam 3511, pivoted at 12 to the frame of the machine, which rocking beam is oscillated by; the pitman 13- connected at its up er end' to the rocking beam 11, and at its ower liend to the crank 14 which is operated the Geneva motion from the cam shaft 4:} The shuttles 20 and 21 are carried in theboxes 5 and 6, respectively, and associated? with each shuttle is a feeler, the feeler 22 *beingassociated with the shuttle 20, and a' feeler 23 being asso- 26 by means of a pitman 27 connected at its upper end with the slide 25, and at its low eryend to the box slide 10, mounted on the la structure. It is apparent, therefore, t at as the boxes are raised and lowered to move one or the other shuttle to active position, the feelers are likewise raised and lowered at the same time.

The feeler mechanism illustrated in the drawings includes the two feelers 22, 23, each comprising a filling engaging member 30, mounted to slide upon the end of a feeler lever 31, being pressed rearwardly in a direction to engage the filling on the bobbin by a spring 29 which yields when the filling engaging member comes in contact with the filling. Each feeler lever 31 is pivotally mounted on the stud 32 supported in the bracket 24. hub of the feeler lever normally tend to turn the feeler levers in a direction to cause the filling engaging members to move away from the. butts of the bobbin. The springs 33 are light springs and exert only sufficient force upon the feeler levers 31 to hold the front end thereof against a vertically arranged actuating rod 36. The actuating rod 36 is rotatably supported in a bracket 38 secured to the loom frame and is urged against the forward end of the feeler levers 31 by a relatively heavy coiled spring 40 interposed between an arm 42 upon the bracket 38 and a lever 44 secured to the actuating rod 36 to. rotate therewith, by a set screw 43 as shown in Fig. 2. The lever 4-4 is provided with an upstanding lu 46 which extends through the slotted end 48 of a connecting link 49 by which movements of the lever are transmitted to the mechanism for controlling the operation of the weft replenishing mechanism, as will be de= scribed. A washer 50 and counter pin 51 retain the slotted end upon the lug.

During the normal operation of the loom, the feelers 22 and 23 enter the change boxes at each beatup of the lay. Provision is made, however, for preventing either.

feeler from performing its effective feeling operation or its detecting function except at a time when the change boxes are stationary and when the active shuttle is at the sideof the loom remote from the change boxes. In this manner the effective feeling operation is performed at a time when the boxes are stationary, upon the shuttle in the change box in inactive position and which shuttle and change box, upon the next beat-up of the lay, will be moved into active position by the box change. This result is secured by permitting the detecting action to occur only when the weft hammer is in a forward position.

For this purpose, a lug 62 (see Fig. extended laterally from a controller slide 64'' is normally positioned directly in the path Springs 33 surrounding the of an oscillatory lever 66 directly connected to the link 49 and through the actuating rod 36 to the feelers 22, 23, so as to prevent the feelers from being pivotally moved under the influence of the heavy coiled spring 40. Provision is made for -removing the lug 62 from the path of the oscillatory lever 66 at the time in the operation of the loom when the lay is at its front center and the active shuttle is absent from the active shuttle box and at the replenishing side of the loom. At this time, therefore, when filling is present upon the bobbin in the inactive shuttle, the engagement of the filling with the filling-engaging tip of the feeler will effectively prevent the feeler from being pivotally moved under the influence of the coiled spring. If, however, at this time, critical exhaustion of the filling has been reached, then the compression of the coiled spring 40 operating through the lever 44 and the actuating rod 36 will operate to cause pivotal movement of the feeler so that the filling engaging tip will feel along the bobbin toward the butt thereof, and the movement of the lever will be transmitted through the link 49 to the oscillatory lever 66 to cause it to be swung to the right, viewing Fig. 2, and in the rear of the lug 62. The weft hammer at such time will be in aforward position, and upon the next rearward beat thereof, a latch 102 is positioned in the path of the weft hammer, as will be described, so that upon the next succeeding forward beat of the weft hammer, the controller arm 64, lever 66, and associated parts are moved forwardly and operate in a manner to be described to rock the change shaft and cause replenishment of the shuttle.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3,

a controller 65 comprising a rod is adjustably secured in the controller arm 64. The controller 65. is adapted, under the above mentioned conditions of operation, to be positioned in the path of a hunter 67 mounted upon the lay and to be moved forwardly thereby a short distance suflicient to cause the lug 62, projecting from the controller arm to be moved out of the path of the oscillatory lever 66. as has been described. The controller 65 and the controller arm 64 are pivoted at 7 2 upon a controller slide 74 connected at 75"w ith the change lever 76, itself mounted upon the change shaft 78. The change shaft 78 is connected in the usual manner with the weft replenishing mechanism. The under surface 80 of the controller arm forms a cam surface with which cooperates a cam lug 82 extended laterally from the weft hammer 84. During the operation of the loom, at all times except upon the beat-up upon which the active shuttle is absent from the active change box and is at the replenishing side of the loom,

the controller 65 is maintained in an'inoperative position .up outof the path of the hunter 67, by the cooperation of the lug 82 upon the weft'hammer with the rearward portion, of the cam surface 80. As the wefthammer beats forwardly, and the cam lug 82 is brought into engagementwith the forward portion .of the cam surface 80, the controller arm.,is permitted to drop to an operative position to be engaged by the hunter 67' upon the lay ward beat of the lay. When the lay arrives at a front center upon this beat, the

bearing 86 for the pivot 72 of the controller arm. A coiled spring 88 received within a hollow portion -90 of the controller slide cooperates with the pivot to yieldingly hold the controller slide in a rearward position.

Extending outwardly from the controller .arm 64 is alug 98 arranged to cooperate 'with a vertically extended lug 100, upon a latch 102 pivoted at'104 in ears projecting from the side 50f the controller slide. At all times during the operation of the loom when the hunter does not engage the coin troller 65, the compression in the coiled spring 88 acting through the controller arm and lugs 98, 100, operates to cause the latch 102 to remain in the position indicated in Fig. 2 out of the path of movement of the weft hammer. \Vhen the loom arrives at the point in its operation for the performance of the effective feeling operation upon either of the shuttles, the weft hammer, it will be observed, will at such time be in its forward position and will therefore operate to prevent the latch from being swung to the left, viewing Fig. 2, as the hunter engages the controller. As

the lay upon this detecting beat-up reaches its forward center, the controller arm is moved, as has been described, forwardly to a position such that the lug 62 is free of the end of the lever 66. If critical exhaustion has not been reached, then the .lever" 66 is prevented from bein swung into'a position in the rear of the ug 62by the engagement of the filling engaging tip of the feeler with the filling upon the bobbin. If, however, critical exhaustion has been reached, then the compression in the'coiled a light coiled spring into a position such upon the next for-'- that when the weft hammer again beats forward, the end of the latch is in the path of the weft hammer andwill be engaged thereby so that upon continued forward movement of the weft hammer, the controller arm, controller slide and associate parts are moved forwardly as a unit, oscillating the change lever and performing the weft replenishing operation. At the end of the forward movement of the controller slide a lug 112 formed integrally with the lever 66 engages an upstanding arm 114 secured to the loom frame and operates'to swing the lever 66 outwardly from:v engagement with the lug 62 upon the controller arm so as to restore the controller arm in its normal position with relation. to the controller slide. As the weft hammer beats backwardly, the parts assume their normal position.

It will be observed, therefore, that the effective feeling operation occurs upon the beat-up of the lay when the active shuttle is absent from the shuttle box and while the boxes are stationary and that the replenishment indicated or called for by such feeling action does not occur until the second heatup of the lay thereafter. To recapitulate, in the operation of the illustrated loom, upon every second beat-up of the lay, first one shuttle and then the other is positioned in its change box, and the latter is in an inactive position. Upon this beat-up the effective feeling operat1on,.or in other words, the detecting action of the feeler takes place. The second feeler entering the empty active change box encounters no bobbin and takes therefore no active part in the feeling operation at this time. If critical exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle in the inactive change box has been reached, then the detecting operation of the feeler prepares the control mechanism in the manner above dethe lay after the detecting beat, the same shuttle is replenished at the replenishing side of the loom. At the beat-up of the lay intermediate or between two detecting beatups, both shuttles are in their change boxes at the same side of the loom, the boxes are changing, and the feeling mechanism is at this time rendered inoperative so vthat no detecting or effective feeling occurs.

It will be observed that the improved box loom possessesmot only a new mode of operation, but that the construction of the feeling mechanism is simplified. The yielding feeler eliminates relative movement between the iflling' engaging tip and the filling upon the' bobbin should relative movement between the shuttle and its change box occur, during a time when the feeler is in engagement with the filling, so that chafing and thread breakage which have heretofore occurred in this type of loom are successfully eliminated by the present construction.

&

Furthermore the performance of the feeling operation when the boxes are stationary renders the indication of filling exhaustion more ositive and'certain as there are less complicated motions required to transmit the filling indication.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: l. A box loomhaving, in combination, a lay, a plurality of changeboxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishingmechanism on the. other side of the loom, a plurality of feelers, one for each change box, means for actuating the change boxes and feelers to raise and lower them simultaneously, and meansforcontrolling the operation of the feelers to permit the detecting action of the feelers to take place only at times when one of the shuttles is at the hopper side.

2. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a lurality ofchange boxes at: one side of the 00th, weft re lenlshin g mechanism on the other side of tlie loom, a plurality of feelers, one for each change box, means for actuatin the change boxes and feelers to raise an lower them simultaneously, and means for controlling the feelers to permit the detecting action to take place upon the inactive shuttle when the active shuttle absent from its change box.

3. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom weft replenishing mechanism, a plurality of feelers, and means for permitting detecting action of the feelers only upon the bobbin in the shuttlein inactive position and when the active shuttle is absent from its box.

of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism,

Qfilling feeler mechanism, and means for conthe lay. and when t e active shuttle is at trolling the operation of the latter to permit the detecting action upon succeeding shuttles to take place u on alternate beat-ups {if t e replenishing side of the loom.

5. A box loom having, in COmbIIHLtIOII, a

lay, a plurality of change boxes, filling feeler mechanism, weft replenishing mechanism at the .opposite side of the loom from the feeler mechanism, and means for controlling the operation of both to cause the detecting action to take place on one' beat-u and if critical exhaustion of the filling 15 indicated, to cause the replenishing action to take place on the second beat-up of the lay thereafter.

6. A- box loom having,in combination, a lay, a lurality of chan e boxes at one side of t e loom weft rep enishin mechanism, fillin feel r mechanism, an means for controlling the'operation o.f. the filling feeler mechanism and weft replenishing mechanism to permit the detecting action 'controllin to take place upon an inactive shuttle upon one beat-up of the lay and if critical exhaustion has been reached,'to cause the corresponding replenishment totake place upon the second beat-up of the lay therefilling feeler mechanism, weft replenishing mechanism, a weft hammer, and means for controtlin the operation of both including a control er, means operative when the weft hammer is in a forward position for rendering the controller operative, and means engaging with the controller when operative for ermitting a detecting action to be impart to the feeler.

9. In a box loom, the combination of filling feeler mechanism, weft replenishing mechanism, a weft hammer, and means controlling theoperation of both including a controller, a movable latch, connections be-' .iif the weft hammer for positioning the latch in the path of the weft hammer upon the next forward beat of the latter.

10. In a box loom, the combination of filling feeler mechanism, weft replenishing mechanism, a weft hammer, and means controlling the operation of both including a conntroller, and meanspperative when the weft hammer is in a forward position for rendering the controller operative, and means for deferring the operation of the weft re lenishing mechanism until the next forwar beat of the weft hammer.

11. A box loom having, in" combination, a lay, a plurality of chan eboxes at one side of the loom, weftrep enishin mechanism, a plurality of feelers, means or moving the feelers in synchronism with the change boxes, and controller mechanism 0 eratively connected with the feelers and t e weft replenishing mechanism for preventing de'tectin action of the feelers when the boxes are c anging and when more-than one shuttle occupies the change boxes.

%2. A box loom having, in combination, y; side of e loom, weft rep enishing mech. anism, a plurality of feelers, means for moving the feelers in synchronism with the let a iplurality of chan e boxes at one tecting action of the feelers when the boxes are changing and when more than one shuttle occupies the change boxes, sa1d mechanism including a controller, and

means for rendering the controller inoper ative between alternate beat-ups of the lay.

13. A box loom having, 'in combination,

a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism, a plurality of feelers, means for moving the feelers in synchronism with the change boxes, a weft hammer and controller mechanism operatively connected with the feelers and the weft replenishing mechanism to prevent detecting action of the feelers when the boxes are changing and when more than one shuttle occupies the change and both the feeler mechanism and weft relenishingmechanism, and means actuatedy the weft hammer for rendering the con-,

troller inoperative during the interval between alternate beat-ups of the lay.

lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of'the loom, weft replenishing mechamsm, filling feeler mechanism, a weft hammer, and means for controlling the filling feeler mechanism and weft replenishing mechanism to permit the detecting action of the filling feeler mechanism to take place upon alternate beat-ups of the lay when the weft hammer is in. a forward position, sa1d means including a controller, and means actuated by the weft hammer for rendering the controller inoperative upon the beat of the la between the detecting beats. I 15. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one slde of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism, filling feeler mechanism, a weft hammer, and means for controlling the filling feeler mechanism and weft v replenishing mechanism to permit the detecting action of the filling feeler mechanism to take place upon alternate beat-ups of the lay when the weft hammer is in a forward position, said means including a controller, a controller arm, con-' nections between the controller arm and weft hammer for raisin the latter into .an inoperative lay interme iate the detectm weft replenishing mechanism and filling feeler mechanism. I

16. A box loom having, incombination, a lay,- a plurality of change boxes at oneside of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism, filling feeler mechanism 'a weft hammer, and means for controlling the filling feeler mechanism and weft replenishing mechaifillin g-feeler mechamsm, a weft position during the beat of the beats, and

connections between the contro ler arm and nism tor nism to permit the detecting action of the filling feeler mechanism to takeiplace upon .alternate beat-ups of the lay whenthe weft hammer is in a forward position, said=means including a controller, a controller arm=having a cam surface with which the weft hammer cooperates toraise and lower the controller into inoperative and operative position respectively, I

, -17. A box loontifihaving, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism, filling feeler mechanism, a weft hammer, and means for controlling the filling feeler mechanism and weft replenishing mechafi nism to permit the detecting action of the filling 'feeler mechanism to take place upon alternate beat-ups of the laywhenthe weft hammer is'in a forward position, said mechanism including a latch adapted tobe en-. boxes, said mechanism includ ng a controller, connections between the controller.

gaged by the weft hammer, a reciprocatory controller, a member adapted to be moved into cooperative relation therewith upon indication of critical exhaustion by the filling feeler mechanism to prevent reciprocation of the controller until the next subsequent forward beat of the weft hammer. 14. A box loom having, in combination, a

18. A box loom haying, in combination, a lay, aplurality of change boxes at one side of the 100111, weft re lenishing mechanism, filling feeler-mechan1sm, a weft hammer,

and means for controlling the filling feeler mechanism and weft replenishing mechanism to permit the detecting action of the filling feeler mechanism to take place upon alternate beat-ups of the lay when the weft .hammer is in forward position, said means (I connected with the filling feeler mechanism for moving the pivoted latch into thepath of the weft hammer upon the next rearward beat of the latter after the indication of critical exhaustion to thereby permit the weft hammer upon the next; forward beat to engage the latch and move it, and connections between the latch and weft replenishing mechanism for oplerating the latter upon movement of the late 19. A box loom-having, in combination, a lay, a"plu rality'of change boxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism, hammer, and means for controlling the filling feeler mechanism and weft replenishing mecha- I permit the detecting action of the filling feeler mechanism to take place upon alternate 'beat-ups of the lay when the weft hammer is in aforwar d osition, said means including a controller slide connected to the weft rep emshmg-mechamsm, a" controller,-

a latch mounted on thejslide and ca able of being moved into and; out of the pat of the weft hammer, means or holding thelatch out of the path of the weft hammer on detecting beats of the lay, means actuated by the feeler mechanism at critical exhaustion for permitting the latch to move into the path of the weft hammer so that upon the next forward beat of the weft hammer the latch and controller slide are moved toopcrate the weft replenishing mechanism.

20. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the 100m, weft replenishing mechanism, filling feeler mechanism, a weft hammer, and means for controlling the filling feeler mechanism and weft replenishing mechanism to permit the detecting action of the filling feeler mechanism to take place upon alternate beat-u s of the lay when the weft hammer is in a orward position, said means including a controller slide, a controller arm movably mounted on the slide, a. controller carried by the arm, connections between the controller and weft hammer for rendering the controller operative when the weft hammer is forward, a latch mounted on the slide capable of being moved into and out of-the path of the weft hammer, means for holding the latch out of the path of the weft hammer on detecting beats of the lay, connections between the controller arm and filling feeler mechanism for rendering the latter ino erative until the controller arm is mov on a detecting beat of the lay and for permitting upon such movement of the controller arm, upon in'dication of critical exhaustion of the filling,

movement of the latch into the path of the weft hammer so that upon the next forward beat of the weft hammer the weft replenishing mechanism is operated b movement of the latch and controller arm y the weft hammer.

21. In a box loom, the combination of weft replenishing mechanism, filling feeler mechanism, a weft hammer, and controller a controller slide, a

mechanism comprisin controller arm mova 1y mounted on the slide, a controller carried by the arm, con

nections between the controller and weft hammer for rendering the controller operative on alternate beats of the lay when the weft hammer is in a forward position, a latch mounted on the slide capable of being moved into and out of the'path of the weft hammer, means for holding the latch out of the path of the weft hammer on detecting heats of the lay, connections between the controller arm and filling feeler mechanism for rendering the latter inoperative until the controller arm is moved on a detecting beat of the lay and for permitting upon such movement of the controller arm, upon indication of critical exhaustion of the filling movement of the latch into the path. of the weft hammer so that upon the next forward beat of the weft hammer the weft a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism, a plurality of feelers, and means for permitting the detection action of one of the feelers only upon the bobbin next to be picked, and durin' the absence of the active shuttle from its 01:.

v 24. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism, a plurality of feelers, and means for causing them to feel of the bobbin in a shuttle in the change box next to be picked, and Evhile the active shuttle is absent fromits ox. I

25. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, two change boxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism on the other side of the loom, a feeler, and means for causing the feeler to perform its feeling function on the inactife shuttle, and while the active shuttle is absent from the boxes. 26. A box loom having, in combination, a' lay, two change boxes at one side of the loom, weft replenishing mechanism on the other side of the loom, a feeler, and means for causing the. feeler to perform its feeling function on the inactive shuttle operating to cause replenishment on the second beatup after critical exhaustion detection.

27.- A box loon'i having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom, filling feeler mechanism having a plurality of feelers, one for each box, such feelers having provision for lateral yielding movement during box changing to eliminate wear on the filling upon the occurrence of movement of the shuttle in being cammed out of the depression of the picker.

28. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom, and filling feeler mechanism havin a plurality of feelers having provision or yielding laterally while in contact with the filling during box changing, in order to eliminate wear on the filling by movement of the shuttle in the l.-' -:Z.

29. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes on one side of the loom, and filling feeler mechanism having a plurality of feelers having provision for lateral mov ment of the feeai' tip while in contact with the filling at the time when the feeling operation is not taking place, in order to eliminate wear on the filling due to movement of the shuttle in being cammed out of the depression in the picker during box changing. v

30. A box loom having, in combination, a lay, a plurality of change boxes at one side of the loom, filling feeler mechanism having a plurality of feelers, one for each box, mounted to yield laterally without inoperation. 4

' JONAS N ORTHROP. 

